SALT LAKE CITY — Some people in Salt Lake City's Ballpark Neighborhood are once again calling on the city to put more resources toward fighting crime in the area.
Last summer, Amy Hawkins co-authored a letter to then-Mayor Jackie Biskupski and Police Chief Mike Brown, urging them to engage with the community and "propose practical, measurable solutions to our neighborhood's problems with homicide and violence."
On Wednesday evening, a man suffered fatal gunshot wounds in the neighborhood. Police are still looking for suspects in the shooting.
"It's very difficult to have gone through this process, to have made formal requests, to have gathered stakeholders, to bring people together, only for this to happen again in the same place," Hawkins told FOX 13 on Thursday. "It's really, really distressing. It's really upsetting. Lots of people feel very angry. I feel devastated. I wish I knew how to help the neighborhood more. I wish I knew how to mobilize resources."
Despite the frustrating situation, Hawkins said her efforts will continue.
I co-authored this letter and gathered 60 signatures from residents, business owners, and community stakeholders. We held an Anti-Violence meeting in September 2019 and a “Focus on 1300 South” meeting on safety concerns last month. Today: a homicide half a block from 1300 South. https://t.co/ATQOn72SPL
— Amy J. Hawkins (@amyjhawkins) August 13, 2020
